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Mason moves make the difference for lucky Tottenham against Brighton

By Aaron Coe

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 8, 2023. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 8, 2023. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good, on Saturday Tottenham produced some of their own luck with second-half changes to beat Brighton 2-1 and stay in the top-four race.

It was an ugly afternoon for Tottenham Hotspur, as it is for most Premier League teams facing a strong, possession-oriented Brighton & Hove Albion team. Despite holding less than 36% possession, Spurs got a little luck and then created some of their own to win a critical three points against a Gulls team who are hot on Tottenham’s tale.

Tottenham saw a little Son from last season as South Korean hits a major milestone

When the opposition holds more than 60% possession, goals will almost always be against the run of play, as was the case for Spurs Saturday. And even though Tottenham was thoroughly outplayed in the first half, Spurs spent much of the 45 minutes nursing a lead, thanks to a magic moment we have not seen enough of this season.

Tottenham had a little possession and was coming in for a second attack on the left side with Ivan Perisic. As a second defender came over to the Croatian, he slipped the ball back inside to Heung-min Son near the corner of the penalty area.

Although more than 20 yards out, there was only one thing on Sonny’s mind as the defense was slow to step up and close. With a couple of touches to get the ball out of his feet and in front of him, Son bent the kind of curler commonplace last season when he won the Golden Boot but have been few and far between this campaign.

More significantly, for Son as an individual, it was his 100th goal in the Premier League, making him the first player from Asia to reach that milestone.

The moment reminded everyone what the Korean could do with just a little time and space around the box if facing the goal. Seeing Sonny get hot down the stretch would help with Spurs’ top-four push, but he never really saw the ball in a similar position again the rest of the match, as Spurs sat back and defended again.

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